Significant May snowstorm blankets Colorado, Wyoming amid historic snow drought
Over 20 inches of snow have been recorded across parts of the higher elevations of the Rockies.
Significant May snowstorm slams Rockies
A rare May snowstorm is walloping the Central Rockies, with more winter weather expected through Wednesday afternoon. Heavy, wet snow is weighing down trees and creating slick conditions across parts of Colorado and Wyoming. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray has the latest conditions in Boulder.
DENVER — A significant late-season snowstorm has blanketed parts of Wyoming and Colorado across the Central Rockies, amid what has been a historic snow deficit for the Intermountain West.
Winter Storm Watches and Warnings remain in effect across the Interstate 25 corridor from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Denver and were expanded south to include Colorado Springs.
![Snow blankets Boulder, Colorado Wednesday.]()
Image 1 of 6Snow blankets Boulder, Colorado Wednesday. (Steve Conney/@powderchasersteve)
![Snow blankets Boulder, Colorado Wednesday.]()
Image 2 of 6Snow blankets Boulder, Colorado Wednesday. (Steve Conney/@powderchasersteve)
![Snow falls on Boulder, CO on Tuesday.]()
Image 3 of 6Snow falls on Boulder, CO on Tuesday. (FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray)
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Image 4 of 6DENVER, CO - MAY 5 : Snow falls on Grant St. in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. ((Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post))
![Snow begins to intensify across Denver Tuesday.]()
Image 5 of 6Snow begins to intensify across Boulder Tuesday. (FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray)
![Snow falls in Castle Rock, CO on Tuesday.]()
Image 6 of 6Snow falls in Castle Rock, CO on Tuesday. (Matthew Perry)
Over 20 inches of snow have been recorded across parts of the higher elevations of the Rockies.
Heavy snow is expected to last through early Wednesday afternoon, with whiteout driving conditions still possible, particularly along the Insterstate 70 corridor.
MASSIVE COLD FRONT BLASTS ROCKIES WITH SNOW, EAST COAST WASHOUT AND SOUTHERN SEVERE STORMS TO FOLLOW
Dense, cold air has filled the area behind the massive cold front that's sweeping the nation from Maine to Texas. That created prime atmospheric conditions for moist air funneling in from the Pacific Ocean to produce heavy, wet snow.
Watch: Snow blankets Boulder, Colorado
More than 10 inches of snow has fallen across Boulder, Colorado, the biggest May snowstorm for the city since 2013.
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray reported that snow was weighing down trees and creating slick conditions in Boulder early Wednesday, where more than 10 inches of snow had fallen, the biggest May snowstorm since May 2013.
Denver International Airport tallied 4.7 inches of snow by mid-morning Wednesday, with 1 to 3 more inches still forecast.
(FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Denver typically sees just 1.4 inches of snow in May, as opposed to April's average of 6.2 inches.
WHAT IS A WINTER STORM WARNING?
FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres said that this could be the biggest May snowstorm for Denver all told since 2003, when a monstrous system dropped 7 inches.
This storm comes just as Arapahoe Basin ski resort had closed for the season, but with the fresh powder, Ray reported that it will reopen this weekend until May 10.
(FOX Weather)
Despite the welcome flakes, Colorado's snowpack is at just 38% of its 1991-2020 average in terms of drinkable water content, according to a recent report from Colorado State University.
2 HIKERS INJURED IN BEAR ATTACK IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Mountain snow serves as a key source of drinking water for many communities in the western U.S. during the dry summer months.
Snow blankets Boulder, Colorado Wednesday.
(Steve Conney/@powderchasersteve / FOX Weather)
The snow is expected to peak Wednesday afternoon before quickly tapering off as the system makes its exit by Thursday.
Temperatures will rebound across much of the Front Range but will remain a few degrees below average through the weekend.